William Alexander

In the exciting new KIDS IN MRS. Z'S CLASS chapter-book series, every book is written by a different beloved author and stars a different kid in the class. With Book Four, written by National Book Award winner William Alexander, Memo Castillo is excited to attend his first-ever fan convention with his best friend, Theo Chang -- but when their transportation plans go awry, will they get to live out their dreams? Guillermo "Memo" Castillo and Theo Chang have been best friends since they were in kindergarten, and now they're partners in Sorcery too -- the mega-popular collectible card game, that is. Memo and Theo are excited to attend the upcoming science fiction & fantasy fan convention not far from Peppermint Falls. They plan to dress up in costumes, play in their first-ever Sorcery competition, defeat that arrogant fifth grader Josh Harkan in the tournament, and have an awesome day. But Memo's dad can't drive them to the convention. His mom can't either. Theo's family is out as well. That leaves just one option: Memo's fearsome abuela. Lala doesn't speak English, though, and Memo doesn't speak Spanish. The two of them have never been able to really connect or communicate. But when Lala unexpectedly agrees to take Memo and Theo to the convention, it opens up a whole new set of adventures and challenges -- along with a kind of magic that Memo never expected.

Meet the kids in Mrs. Z's wacky and wonderful third-grade class Memo Castillo can't wait for his first-ever MagiCon fan convention, but his plans are on the verge of collapse unless he can find a ride--fast Guillermo "Memo" Castillo and Theo Chang can't wait to attend the local MagiCon convention. They'll dress up in costumes, play in their first-ever Sorcery competition, defeat that snotty fifth grader Josh Harkan, and have an awesome day. But Memo's dad can't drive them to the convention. His mom can't either. Theo's family is out as well. Memo has to figure out a new plan for their epic journey before it's too late He turns to Lala, his fearsome abuela. Lala doesn't speak English, though, and Memo doesn't speak Spanish. When Lala unexpectedly agrees to take Memo and Theo to the convention, it opens up a whole new set of adventures and challenges--along with a kind of magic that Memo never expected. Both sweetly poignant and laugh-out-loud funny, with black-and-white illustrations by Pura Belpr Honor artist Kat Fajardo, Memo's story invites readers into Mrs. Z's class where friendship and fun rule the school, from National Book Award winner William Alexander. Perfect for ★ My Weirdtastic School fans ★ Reluctant readers ★ Classroom read-alouds ★ Andrew Clements fans ★ Multilingual families ★ D&D players ★ Grandparents Day Read them all The Kids in Mrs. Z's Class have plenty of stories to share Emma McKenna, Full out (#1) Rohan Murthy Has a Plan (#2) Poppy Song Bakes a Way (#3) Wyatt Hill Brings a Lizard to School (#5) Ayana Ndoum Takes the Stage (#6) Olive Little Gets Crafty (#7) -- available for preorder now Synclaire Fields Knows the Score (#8) -- available for preorder now Theo Chang is Not a Cat (#9) -- available for preorder now Thunder Nelson Does the Impossumble (#10) -- available for preorder now *The Kids in Mrs. Z's Class is an innovative series where every book is written by a different all-star author and features a different kid in the same third-grade class. They can be read in any order

The tomato gets no respect. Never has. Lost in the dustbin of history for centuries, accused of being vile and poisonous, subjected to being picked hard-green and gassed, even used as a projectile, the poor tomato has become the avatar for our disaffection with industrial foods - while becoming the most popular vegetable in America (and, in fact, the world). Each summer, tomato festivals crop up across the country; the Heinz ketchup bottle, instantly recognizable, has earned a spot in the Smithsonian; and now the tomato is redefining the very nature of farming, moving from fields into climate-controlled mega-greenhouses the size of New England villages. Supported by meticulous research and told in a lively, accessible voice, Ten Tomatoes That Changed the World seamlessly weaves travel, history, humour, and a little adventure (and misadventure) to follow the tomato's trail through history. A fascinating story complete with heroes, con artists, conquistadors, and-no surprise-the Mafia, this book is a mouth-watering, informative, and entertaining guide to the food that has captured our hearts for generations.

Reprint of the original, first published in 1859.

Reprint of the original, first published in 1859.

Read about "La Reina de la Salsa" in Hispanic Star: Celia Cruz, and learn the most groundbreaking, iconic Hispanic and Latinx heroes that have shaped our culture and the world in this gripping biography series for young readers, perfect for fans of the Who Was series. If you can see it, you can be it. Meet the Queen of Salsa, Celia Cruz--once just a girl from Havana, Cuba, who loved to sing. Her soulful voice, compelling charm, and unstoppable determination led to her meteoric rise to fame, opening the door for Latinx performers everywhere. Her booming career took her from the Sonora Matancera to the Fania All-Stars, with the rising popularity of salsa, a genre born of Afro-Cuban musical stylings. Six decades and more than seventy albums later, Celia's influence still has an undeniable hold on today's music. Hispanic Star proudly celebrates Hispanic and Latinx heroes who have made remarkable contributions to American culture and have been undeniable forces in shaping its future.

Read about "La Reina de la Salsa" in Hispanic Star: Celia Cruz, and learn the most groundbreaking, iconic Hispanic and Latinx heroes that have shaped our culture and the world in this gripping biography series for young readers, perfect for fans of the Who Was series. If you can see it, you can be it. Meet the Queen of Salsa, Celia Cruz--once just a girl from Havana, Cuba, who loved to sing. Her soulful voice, compelling charm, and unstoppable determination led to her meteoric rise to fame, opening the door for Latinx performers everywhere. Her booming career took her from the Sonora Matancera to the Fania All-Stars, with the rising popularity of salsa, a genre born of Afro-Cuban musical stylings. Six decades and more than seventy albums later, Celia's influence still has an undeniable hold on today's music. Hispanic Star proudly celebrates Hispanic and Latinx heroes who have made remarkable contributions to American culture and have been undeniable forces in shaping its future.

Escrito por Claudia Romo Edelman y William Alexander, con ilustraciones por Alexandra Beguez, Hispanic Star en espa ol: Celia Cruz, forma parte de una emocionante serie de biograf as para lectores jovenes, perfecto para los fanaticos de la serie Qui n fue? Conoce a la Reina de la Salsa, Celia Cruz, antes solo una ni a de La Habana, Cuba, que amaba cantar. Su voz conmovedora, su encanto irresistible y su voluntad de hierro le permitieron alcanzar la fama de forma mete rica, abri ndoles as las puertas a artistas latinos en el mundo entero. Su espectacular carrera la llev de la Sonora Matancera a la Fania All-Stars con la creciente popularidad de la salsa, un g nero nacido de los estilos musicales afrocubanos. Seis d cadas y m s de setenta discos despu s, la influencia de Celia sigue vigente en la m sica de hoy. Hispanic Star celebra con orgullo a los h roes latinos e hispanos que han hecho grandes contribuciones a la cultura estadounidense y representan una fuerza indiscutible para labrar su futuro.